So as we mentioned here, we will continue talking about key words that brought some visitors to this blog. This time however, instead of just two-three words, we have complete questions typed in by search engine users. We hope to answer these questions particularly those which we haven’t touched on in previous posts. Except for capitalizing the first letters and putting question marks at the end, we’re leaving the questions unedited.
1. “What does iddem dem malida mean?” Honestly, we also don’t know. We speculated here that maybe it is like “ay ay salidummay” which does not have a translation. Hopefully our Tingguian readers can help us if the words do have a meaning and can be translated to other languages. For those who missed our post about this, Iddemdem Malida is a Tingguian victory song. You can read the post and a video of the UP chorale group singing the song here.
UPDATE: Comment from karaniwangbata:
The meaning of “iddem dem malida” is “remember they came” and if I may continue the the chant… “iddem dem malida inabak mi daida” which means “remember they came, we beat them”.
Much thanks karaniwangbata. It’s a bit like Kankanaey, i.e., nemnem is remember, then inmali da is they came. Of course, inabak mi daida is also Kankanaey and it has the same meaning as in Tingguian/Itneg.
2. “What is the legendary of tabuk, kalinga apayao :philippines?” If the googler was looking for how Tabuk was named, then here’s the answer from tabuk.gov.ph: “Tabuk came from the word “Tobog”, a living stream that runs from the upper part of the municipality that flows down to the lower part of the town which waters the wide fields of the residents of the place.”
3. “What kind of problems did they face in canada’s cordillera?” We know that South America has a Cordillera Region, but we didn’t know that Canada also has its own version. Thanks to this question we found out that there is indeed a Canadian Cordillera. According to this site, the Canadian Cordillera is “in the western portion of the continent and includes the Rocky Mountains”. So our kailiyans in British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon who live near these mountain ranges can correctly claim that they are in the Cordilleras.
4. “What vitamin do you get from sayote?” According to wikipedia, sayote is rich in amino acids and vitamin C. Those who missed our posts on sayote can click at these links: Green Gold, Sayote Chu Chu Recipe, and Nats’ Sayote Painting.
5. “Where the name bontoc came from?” You got us there. We can’t find a reliable source that would give us the answer as to the origin of the name. But this site states that:
Bontoc is derived from the term “bun,” which is the equivalent of heap in English and “tuk,” which means top. When combined, the two words mean “mountain,” or “Bontoc,” when translated on the tribe’s dialect.
We don’t know if that is true because the site does not mention a source. Maybe Fongakhan can help clarify the matter.
6. “Where’s could i find the ifugao tribe?” In the province of Ifugao of course. The Ifugao provincial website has the details on the different Ifugao ethnolinguistic groups. You should visit the site because it has improved tremendously since the time we reviewed it along with other provincial sites. We can’t decide now whether Benguet or Ifugao has the better website. Maybe we should make it a tie because both are equally deserving of first place honors?
7. “White water rafting articles on tinglayan kalinga?” You can find some articles (though not the travel feature kind) and great pictures at the Chico River Quest. The locally-owned company is doing a great job of promoting Kalinga as a white water rafting destination.
8. “Who is the singer of ‘layad‘, one of the greatest song in cordillera administrative region in the philippines?” The song Layad nan Likhatan is a Bontoc song. It was first popularized by Lourdes Gomeyac-Fangki. More about the song at Bontoc Ikholot.
9. “Why sagada people speaks english well?” Because the teachers who first taught in Sagada are Americans that’s why. Don’t you think though that knowledge of English is way too overrated in the Philippines? We know it’s good to be adept in other languages like English but in this country your worth is sometimes equated to how well you speak English. If it was us, we’d rather that those American teachers taught iSagadas to be more critical thinkers first and good English speakers second.
10. “Why would the community, the province, the country want mining as a resource based industry?” Beats us. Gloria is promoting mining because it is an easy way out for her financially bankrupt government. She believes that mining will mean more foreign investors, more exports, more dollars coming in, and more income for the government. That these things will happen at the expense of indigenous peoples who would be kicked out of our communities if these mining companies have their way do not concern Gloria and her ilk.
Don’t get us wrong, we are not totally against mining but we are against the present mining laws which disempower communities and which promote inequity. The argument that mining will employ people, which the government’s Mining Geosciences Bureau loves to put forward, is a silly reason. If the purpose is to employ people, eh di let’s promote community-based mining. But more about this in a future post.
RELATED POST: Blog Visitors: Your Search Words. PHOTO CREDIT: Cobblestonepub.
Bill, this is a belated comment on Layad nan Likhatan, but it is worth sharing. The lyrics of that song were written by an i-Fontok named Pedro Chinalpan. I think he was from Guina-ang, Bontoc.
The melody is not really ours (I mean, baken tako kua). Mr. Chinalpan used the melody of an American song, “When There’s Love at Home.” The song Layad was already popular but when Mng Lourdes sang it, it became phenomenal.
I got the information from my Mom- a proud St. Mary’s School alumna. I think Chinalpan’s composition came out during their “day” (meaning, nung bata pa ang mahal kong Moderaka).
maybe this comment is late but the meaning of ” iddem dem malida” is ” remember they came” and if i may continue the the chant… iddem dem malida inabak mi daida which means remember they came we beat them
have a good day folks!
Hmmm… Are chorale groups going ethnic with their pieces nowadays? Is this the trend? Because I know that the Ateneo chorale group also sang a Kalinga traditional song, entitled ‘Vochong’ in one of their concerts abroad, and that concert was recorded. They sounded so good, and the piece was beautifully arranged. But since it was an audio cd, I didn’t have any idea what their actions were while they sang the song, or maybe they didn’t bother. We used the piece to perform the Bontoc dance for a cultural night because we didn’t have any gongs hehehe…
Yes, what Atty. Daytec-Yangot said about ‘Nan Layad nan Likhatan’ is true. Fr. Daniel Carino, an Ifontok Anglican priest, composed a more positive version of the song (in contrast to the sad lyrics of the popular one), more in keeping with the lyrics of ‘When There’s Love at Home’.
What does Bontoc mean? The answer you cited is also what I know. I have not come across other explanations. Maybe I need to do more research =)
Hi Cheryl,
Ganun ba? I must say I’m kind of shocked. It’s the same feeling when I found out that the melody of the St. Mary’s hymn (Amid Untold) was based on the Londonderry Air/Danny Boy. Then I was listening to a song, Ayag si Uchan, recorded by a women’s group from Bontoc and was so impressed with the song but then found out that the melody is also based on a foreign song.
Interestingly, the original melodies from which said Cordi versions are based on touches the core of my (and I guess others’) Cordillera soul hehe. Maybe they are proof to the saying that music is universal. But at the same time, that little feeling of disappointment after finding out that the songs are not totally ours underscores the importance of coming up with original work.
Pagano has a post which touched on this issue here. Thanks Cheryl 🙂
Hi kawaniwang bata,
Thanks for the info, I will update the post to include the info you shared. It sounds like Kankanaey; it would go: Nemnem inmali da. And inabak mi daida is also 100% Kankanaey. We really should explore the Tingguian and Kankanaey connection ano 🙂 Thanks.
Hi Fongakhan,
I think they are. Another group which has borrowed heavily from Cordi is the Asian Institute of Liturgy and Music.
Hmm, I will have to look for that song composed by Fr. Carino.
Baka naman iyon pala talaga ang ibig sabihin ng Bontoc. Thanks much.
Hi, Bill. There is an error in what I posted about the song Layad. I said it was written by Pedro Chinalpan but it turns out I was wrong.
The one who wrote it is a Mr. Ox from Bontoc Central but it was first sang and popularized by Pedro Chinalpan. According to Aunt Salma Martin (who prodded me to let everyone know the truth about the song), Mr. Ox was so in love with a fair Bontoc maiden. However, the relationship did not prosper because the woman married a Mr. Claver. Heartbroken, Mr. Ox wrote the song. No wonder it is about a love that went wrong somewhere. I wonder why it is sung at weddings when its mood is so somber it could actually move you to sadness and tears.
Yun lang. This is just to give credit where credit is due.
Maybe Chyt is being funny when she referred to a “Mr Ox”. I guess she is referring to somebody named Mr Oakes?
Ahahahaha… It’s possible nga Mr. Oakes ni Mr. Ox agpayso. I know there is a family name of ‘Oakes’ in Bontoc =)
Hmm.. Interesting story behind the song! People still sing the song even though the occassion doesn’t fit the lyrics. It has become a sort of a theme song for Cordillerans.
Hahaha. I was not being funny, but it looks like I am now. It could be Oakes. When Auntie Salma said Mr. Ox, I thought it was to be spelled as pronounced.
My husband is half Ifontok who traces his roots to Samoki and Gonogon. I should have asked him.
It could be Mr. Oakes. He has a son named Matthew, I was told.
Hi Chyt,
Much thanks. It’s good to know the story behind this very popular song. Didn’t know that people sing this at weddings. Hindi yata fitting. Thanks 🙂
Hi Nadjhin,
I don’t think she was being funny but I also wondered whether it is Oakes because I know a seminarian who has that family name. Thanks 🙂
Hi Layad,
I thought the Oakes family is from Benguet? I may be wrong though. Thanks.
Hi Chyt,
Thanks again for the info. I think I will make a new post on this song with the info you provided. Thanks.
Hi thErE All Of YOu Can I JoiN yoU All?? I mEan CHatting Or Somthin’ Im kylE Anyway Still Young tHough.. HEHE
hi bill… you were thinking the Oakes family are from Benguet? perhaps you know Dick Oakes of Pico? he’s originally from Mountain Province